Stepping into motherhood with your little bundle wrapped snug in your arms is an emotion simple words can’t express. Your mind is a whirlwind right now- hope to blend into fear; anticipation and anxiety seeping out, love and adoration pouring through- motherhood can be invigoration. However, while you brace yourself for the roller coaster ride ahead, some of the few misconceptions swirling out there could bring your energized attitude towards motherhood into a dilemma. A few of these misconceptions or myths, as we call it are related to breastfeeding.
Considered an intensely, intimate moment where the mother and child bonds, the wonderful concept of you being the sustenance source for your little one could be both daunting and exciting at the same time. However, if you’ve been hearing a lot of hushed whispers about breastfeeding, let us assure you, our breastfeeding lactation consultant in Chicago is right here to help you steer your motherhood ship the right way. For every other word-around-town, we have these 5 myth-busting pointers for you to feast your eyes on-
- Breastfeeding is NOT easy-
If someone assured you it is, let us paint you a different picture. We are not trying to deter you but the truth is sometimes, breastfeeding may not come as naturally as you expected. At times like this, all you’d need is a little guidance from an expert. - Breastfeeding is also NOT painful-
We have often heard people saying pain during breastfeeding is normal. While the initial times can be a mix of pain and discomfort, let us assure you this is not a continuous feeling. - Diet & Drinks are NOT the only solutions-
Drinking ample amount of water and watching your diet would help you produce more and better milk, says tradition. Even though diet and hydration are critical for you and your baby, overdoing your dietary routine is not going to help you increase your productivity overnight. Sometimes, you can cut yourself a slack and grill yourself a cheese sandwich, it’s alright! - You DON’T have to prep your breasts-
You don’t have to extravagantly prepare your breasts for the feeding session. This has and always will be a natural process. For new mothers, doctors may suggest some techniques to kick-start or increase the flow. However, once the initial phase fizzles out, you’ll find this to be quite a naturally independent process. - Working moms DON’T have to replace breast milk with formula-
Juggling full-time careers as a doting mom and a working professional? People say if you want to jump right back into work, you should shift to formula-feeding instead. However, if you’re not a big fan of formula-feeds, breastfeeding experts assure you pumping and freezing your natural milk does the job too.
These were just a fraction of the myths and we are sure there’s more out there. Regardless, if you ever find yourself at a breastfeeding crossroads, just know, our breastfeeding consultant support in Chicago will always be there to guide you.